Duncan Scott/DScott@News-Herald.comDaniel A. Vanderhoof Jr. pleads guilty Thursday in Lake County Common Pleas Court to two counts of aggravated vehicular assault and operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Vanderhoof drove his vehicle into a single-family home in Mentor, hospitalizing a family of four. At right his defense attorney Dave Patterson.

A Willoughby man claimed responsibility on Thursday for driving a car into a house in Mentor in December.

Daniel Vanderhoof Jr., 28, pleaded guilty in Lake County Common Pleas Court to two counts of aggravated vehicular assault, second-degree felonies, and one count of OVI, a first-degree misdemeanor.

Judge Eugene A. Lucci told Vanderhoof that the charges carry mandatory prison time, with a maximum sentence of 16 years and 180 days.

With this conviction, Vanderhoof now has three OVIs. A fourth OVI would become a felony with up to 30 months in prison, Lucci said.

Advertisement

"There's no chance of that happening at all," Vanderhoof said.

"No chance?" Lucci said.

"I wish I had a nickel for every time someone told me there's no chance."

About 2:50 a.m. on Dec. 9, Vanderhoof crashed a 1991 Mercury Grand Marquis into a one-story home at 7044 Comanche Trail.

Prosecuting attorney Paul Kaplan said, had the case gone to trial, the facts would have shown that Vanderhoof was traveling in excess of 60 mph on a 25 mph road

At the time of the crash, a family of four was inside the home. Three-year-old Christopher Lukasiewicz Jr. was trapped under the car and was taken to University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children Hospital in Cleveland.

Christopher's father Chris Lukasiewicz, 31, was also injured, suffering a broken arm and damage to his shoulder.

Both are still undergoing physical therapy, Kaplan said. Mother Tonya Blare, 30, and the couple's other child, 18-month-old Cassie, were also hospitalized.

In addition to the injuries, the home was destroyed.

Vanderhoof then left the scene of the crash and was later arrested at his home in Willoughby. When his blood-alcohol level was taken, he registered a .172, more than double the legal limit of .08, Kaplan said.

The family is still recovering, as Chris Lukasiewicz still had his arm in a sling on Saturday at a benefit dinner held at LaMalfa Centre in Mentor.

Near the end of the hearing, Vanderhoof's attorney, David Patterson, asked Lucci to consider lowering Vanderhoof's bond so he could possibly post it before sentencing. Lucci declined.